WORLD RADIO DAY, FEBRUARY 13TH, 2017 – (COMMERCIAL) RADIO AND YOU / JOURNEE MONDIALE DE LA RADIO, 13 FEVRIER 2017 – LA RADIO (PRIVEE) ET VOUS

WORLD RADIO DAY, FEBRUARY 13TH, 2017 – (COMMERCIAL) RADIO AND YOU / JOURNEE MONDIALE DE LA RADIO, 13 FEVRIER 2017 – LA RADIO (PRIVEE) ET VOUS

MEDIA RELEASE / COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE

EN

The Association of European Radios (AER), representing 4500 commercially funded radio stations across Europe, is proud to celebrate World Radio Day which in 2017 focuses on radio’s unique relationship with its audiences and communities.

Radio continues to be a highly valued medium throughout Europe: 80% of the EU population listens to radio for at least 2 to 3 hours a day. Free-to-air and simple to use, radio is a prime source of information and entertainment for its audience, and remains the most reliable medium in Europe (Special Eurobarometer Survey of September-October 2016 (EB452) – radio is 10 percentage points ahead any other medium). Furthermore, at times of man-made or natural disasters it is the first – and possibly the only remaining tool – to inform the public.

Radio stations pride themselves on their relationship with their listeners and the quality of their services. This is why AER and its members are constantly working with the EU institutions to ensure the best possible regulatory environment in which stations can thrive and continue to provide valuable services for their listeners. This includes working with the EU to make the terms and conditions which you hear at the end of radio advertisements simpler and therefore more effective. Recent studies in France and the UK have confirmed that listeners prefer shorter terms and conditions which both sound better and are easier to understand and AER is pushing for EU regulation to reflect this.

Key recent statistics from some of our markets which confirm the importance of radio today include:

– Finland: third year in a row of growth, with an advertising market gaining 2.9% more in 2016